A Portuguese football club faces potential disqualification and a substantial fine from a regional league after a second consecutive match cancellation tied to insufficient player registration. The club, Boavista, risks exclusion from the AF Porto 1st Division, the fourth and final tier of the district association, following a decision by league officials.
The AF Porto canceled a match scheduled for Wednesday against Ventura SC due to Boavista’s failure to register a sufficient number of players by a statutory deadline. This incident follows a similar cancellation in the prior league fixture against Panteras Negras FC, which resulted in a 3-0 default loss for Boavista.
According to AF Porto’s Disciplinary Regulations, specifically Article 58, Point 6, a club’s failure to register enough players by 12 PM on the last business day before a game is treated as a “failure to appear.” The regulations further state that an “unjustified failure to appear in two consecutive official games” can lead to consequences outlined in Article 46, Point 2.
These provisions dictate that if a club withdraws after a points-based competition begins, it faces disqualification, relegation to a lower division, and a fine. The potential fine in this instance amounts to 600 euros, approximately $650 USD.
The case will now proceed to the AF Porto Disciplinary Council, which is expected to initiate a disciplinary process. The council will assess whether the two recent cancellations against Ventura SC and Panteras Negras FC constitute consecutive failures to appear, potentially leading to Boavista’s disqualification. The club will be afforded the opportunity to present its defense.
It is important to note that the team at risk is the “club team” of Boavista, distinct from the professional Boavista SAD team, which competes in Liga Portugal, the country’s top-tier league. Panteras Negras FC is a team that originated from the fan group of Boavista. Ventura SC is based in Matosinhos.